Bewitched round Pendle

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Pendle Hill is an iconic landmark in East Lancashire, and on summer days it's steep slopes bear witness to that popularity with heavily fortified paths and a steady stream of aspirant and perspirant ascensionists. There is a quieter side to Pendle though, steeped in witch country folklore and this route explores that quieter corner of Pendle, losing none of the rugged terrain the hill is famous for.

The story of Pendle Witches is well documented elsewhere, a sad 17th C tale of suspicion and betrayal resulting in the conviction and deaths of 10 local people, most famous of which is Alice Nutter from nearby Roughlee.

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Parking is easy in the small Pay and Display car park in Sabden, and from there the route wends its way up through the village and surrounding lanes before climbing gently onto the lower slopes of Apronfull Hill, above Churn Clough Reservoir. Through a couple gates and onto the fell proper, a left turn up a steep and eroded path takes you up onto Craggs Dole and toward the shattered outcrop of Deerstones. Climbing above that to a wall line and kissing gate, you now turn right before the wall to climb along it and up onto the broad back of Spence Moor. Crossing through the wall via a gate, the path then climbs gently to the high point of the route before a boggy descent to another wall crossing.

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Turning right (SW) you now begin a wonderful flying descent down into the bottom of Stainscombe Dole, crossing Wood House Brook before climbing out over Stainscombe and contouring across to Churn Clough. Following the path north for 150m next to the woods above the reservoir, before looking for a steep path down to the left and over to the metal gate at the reservoir edge. The main path on the eastern edge of Churn Clough leads south to a dwelling and the drop back down via New York and Heyhouses before joining a metalled road leading back to Sabden. Retrace your steps back into the village centre and the finish.